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Marco Buongiorno Nardelli - composer, flutes - Rome (Italy)
Marco's broad musical interests span from the baroque repertoire to jazz, contemporary and electronic music. Educated as both a musician and a physicist (PhD, Condensed Matter Theory, 1993), he holds a BM in Music Theory and Composition from the Conservatorio "Luigi Cherubini" in Florence, Italy, studied flute with Oro and Gian-Luca Petrucci in Rome and Brooks deWetter-Smith at UNC-Chapel Hill and sung in the choir of the Accademia Filarmonica Romana for many years. He has studied composition with Riccardo Giagni (Rome), Lyda di Cuffa (Florence), Alan Shockley (RI College) and Allen Anderson (UNC-Chapel Hill). As a performer he has recorded for the Italian National Radio and Television (RAI) and has released various CD's with the world music group Kolaj and the Arabic-jazz-fusion ensemble Jaafar.
[go to Marco's personal website]
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Jim Crew - composer, piano, accordeon - Raleigh, NC (USA) Keyboardist and composer Jim Crew studied music at UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of North Texas, and privately with world renowned pianist/composer Joanne Brackeen. As a child he studied piano with Arvids Snornieks, was a member of the Raleigh Boy Choir for six years, and played the clarinet through high school. He has performed at major jazz festivals and in clubs from New York to Florida and composes music for modern dance, musical theater, computer games, film trailers (including King Kong, The DaVinci Code, The Lion King), documentaries, and advertising. He recently recorded several orchestral compositions for film with the San Francisco Symphony at Skywalker Sound. Jim has been awarded a number of grants from NC Arts Agencies.
[go to Jim's personal website] |
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Naji Hilal - composer, oud, violin - Kernayel (Lebanon)
Naji Hilal was born in Lebanon from a musically gifted family. At the early age of 6, Naji’s father made absolutely positively sure that Naji carries this bequest. Naji was exposed to the fine arts of Lebanese traditional and classical music mastering the oud while playing with Lebanese local bands. The musically versatile Naji, also plays the viola, nay, guitar, accordion, Kanoun, and various percussive instruments. Naji is also a singer and composer having produced an album, named Intizar which is a contemporary Middle Eastern music and played on traditional and few modern instruments. At this time Naji performs singing and oud playing for international events and he also performs guest lecturing in the subject of Middle Eastern scales at local universities and Oriental Dancing workshops.
[go to Naji's personal website]
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Ed T. Butler - composer, drums - Baltimore, MD (USA)
Since his arrival to Chapel Hill, in 1982, Ed Butler has been a shining light in an already vibrant music scene in North Carolina. And he is comfortable in all styles and genres. He has performed extensively across North America from New York to Nashville, from Los Angeles to Winnipeg. Canada. Throughout Europe and North Africa, always absorbing a bit of the local culture to put into his bag-o-tricks for later use. He has performed and recorded with the Tony Award winning Red Clay Ramblers, Grammy Nominee Michelle Shocked, renowned independent record producer Chris Stamey, and both the N.C. Symphony and Ballet. He has also composed and performed for Playmakers Repertory and Jelly Educational Theatre Company, winner of the 2000 Indy Award for Excellence.
[go to Ed's personal website] |
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Alex Gorodezky - composer, guitars - Kiev (Ukraine)
Alex began his musical career early, learning to play classical guitar at age 12. Later Alex graduated from the Glier Music College in Kiev as a jazz performer and arranger. In 1988 he debuted at the International Jazz festival in the Ukraine then started touring, performing jazz, funk and world music. Alex relocated to Israel in 1991 where he joined the Gesher theater company. After 300 performances all over Israel and Europe he moved to the United States in 1995 where he is currently active in the North Carolina music scene. Alex creates contemporary arrangements of the Argentinean Tangos of Astor Piazzolla, combining elements of modern jazz, bossa nova, and flamenco. He also tours with Vadim Kolpakov and VIA Romen performing jazz, fusion, and world-music as well as Roma melodies.
[go to VIA Romen website]
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Ernie Donadelle - composer, bass - New York, NY (USA)
Born in New York City, Ernie Donadelle evolved from a rich musical heritage. Having completed two years at Berklee, he went on the road with Julie Grant & Crystal Vision (show band), touring for 2 years on the East Coast, Canada, Aruba, and appeared on television in Curacao. In 1982, Ernie took his prodigious talents to Los Angeles. In LA, he recorded and landed on the Billboard charts with Richard “Dimples” Fields (“Neckgrabber”), performed with Alexander O’Neal, and other area bands (original, R&B, Top 40). In 1993, Ernie and friends formed the band Luna in LA. With Luna and later Straight from the Heart, Ernie toured extensively for the next five years through Asia (Bangkok, Japan, Hong Kong (once performing for Princess Di), The Philippines, Taipei, and Indonesia). Ernie’s energy and enthusiasm is contagious and engaging both on and off stage.
[go to Ernie's personal website] |
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Frake "bakru" Hunsel - composer, percussions - Suriname
Born in the Netherlands, Frake grew up in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, where he was surrounded by music everywhere; Kaseko, Kawina, Hindi film songs, Javanese pop, Classical music and American Soul and Rock music. He answered the call of the drum in his mother’s kitchen banging on pots and pans, and studied with Professor Just Collins at the Suriname Public Music Academy (VMS). Frake moved to the U.S.A, and worked as a physical therapist in various states and played drums and percussion with several bands. He experienced his first drum facilitating experience at a summer day camp for inner city kids.
Since moving to Raleigh in 1999 he has had the privilege to play with Freddy “Street Genie” Greene, and Durham’s jazz legend Professor Yusuf Salim.
Trained in the REMO HealthRhythm protocol he helped implement the “Beat the Stress” drum circle at UNC Hospitals. The program was featured on UNC-TV’s Health Wise series. Frake is a certified FitRhythms facilitator. He guest lectures at NC State University on African diaspora drumming
He likes to expose the young and the old to the power and joy of recreational drumming.
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